Contra Mundum
Channeling the Populist Rage
Of course, while we have a high view of government, it isn't a blank check. Christian doctrines such as sphere sovereignty, subsidiarity (nothing should be done by a larger, complex organization when a smaller organization can accomplish it), the balance of power, and God's transcendent law must hold government in check. So if Washington has lost touch with the people, as Christians we should work fervently to reform these systems. Real reform may even have to come through an independent commission like Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE), for which Congressman Frank Wolf has tirelessly advocated.
The tea party movement may have a lot of traction in America today, but it makes no attempt to present a governing philosophy. It simply seeks an outlet—an understandable one—for the brooding frustrations of many Americans. But anti-government attitudes are not the substitute for good government.We should be instructing people enraged at the excesses of Washington and the growing ethical malaise in the Capitol to focus their rage at fixing government, not throwing the baby out with the bath water.
We Christians are to be the best citizens, praying for our leaders and holding them in high regard, even as we push for the reforms desperately needed to keep representative government flourishing. Only when we funnel frustrations into constructive reformation can we expect a government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people.
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Related Elsewhere:
Previous columns by Charles Colson are available on our website, including:
Valentine's Dynamic Love | Our love is most godly when it is against the world for the world. (February 12, 2010)
The Problem of Goodness | It's not just the problem of evil that baffles the secularist. (December 22, 2009)
When Atheists Believe | The confounding attraction of the Christian worldview. (October 22, 2009)
Christianity Today follows political developments on the politics blog.
Contra Mundum
Chuck Colson & Timothy George
Charles Colson was the founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries, an outreach to convicts, victims of crime, and justice officers. Colson, who converted to Christianity before he was indicted on Watergate-related charges, became one of evangelicalism's most influential voices. His books included Born Again and How Now Shall We Live? A Christianity Today columnist since 1985, Colson died in 2012.
Timothy George is the dean of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University and a member of Christianity Today's Editorial Council. His books include Reading Scripture with the Reformers and Is the Father of Jesus the God of Muhammad? Like Colson, George has been heavily involved in the Evangelicals and Catholics Together discussions. George began cowriting "Contra Mundum" with Colson in 2011.
- Catholics and Baptists Together
- The Man Who Birthed Evangelicalism
- Sacrilege Is Real
- Against the Stream
- Charles Colson & Timothy George: Churchless Jesus
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patriot 1701
Don F wrote: "They [Tea Parties] advocate less spending, less government, less taxation at the Federal level...Above all, they favor personal freedom over the supposed safety of rampant statism." Right on, Don! Statism - government as master of the people - is destroying liberty in this nation at a frightening pace. Our government has become horribly statist, and the safety it intends to provide for us is the safety of the cage, where the people will be totally controlled and provided for, but will have little freedom over their own lives. Sadly, many leftists seem to want that, but patriots and Tea Party supporters abhor it.
Nancy Arnold
To Don F: Bush recognized himself that he was held responsible for Katrina and apologized for his inaction. In a monumental ruling, U.S. District Judge Stanwood R. Duval declared that the government, via negligence on the part of the Army Corp of Engineers, is directly responsible for many of the issues that people encountered after the winds settled. The local and state governments of Louisiana are responsible to a lesser degree because they do not control the Army Corp of Engineers who knew in 2004 that the levies would not hold. Why do Chrisitans always support Republicans even when they are clearly wrong? And why does this Tea Party not looked into the facts? Taxes for the middle class went down this year! Why don't Christians give this Christian president a chance? He's only be in office a little over a year and Bush had eight years to bring us to financial ruin with his two wars and tax cuts for the wealthy. Learn the facts before spouting off against the government.
Don F
Well. First, I have never understood why Bush was held resposible for Katrina. The Federal government NEVER prepared for these sort of things, only reacted to the needs after the fact. The disaster of Katrina was the irresponsibility of the local and state governments, which were heavily democratic. Thank our news organizations for the bit of opportunistic demonizing. I also think it is inaccurate to say the Tea Party does not put forward a governing philosophy. They advocate less spending, less government, less taxation at the Federal level. I think it fair to say they strongly support subsidiarity. Above all, they favor personal freedom over the supposed safety of rampant statism. This is crucial to all those who do not want to lose the right to think and worship as they see fit.